Cleaning a Barbecue

It is a dreaded thought: cleaning the barbecue.  But now, thanks to CLICK CLEANING, it can be far easier than expected.  There is a great range of specially formulated products to tackle grease and burnt on food, which can make it easier for you to maintain a healthy cooking environment.

How you clean your barbecue will depend on the type you have; gas or charcoal.

GAS BARBECUE

The first step is a no brainer, but it is essential: turn off the main gas supply before cleaning your barbecue.  A great little tip is to burn off the grill and the inside of the barbecue for about 30 minutes the night before - ideal for cutting down alot of the grease.

The next step is to obtain direct access to the burner assembly.  Take out the lava rocks or briquettes, if you have them, toss them into a BUCKET and then remove the lower grill.

Take a good look at the burner assembly - you will probably find you have either the pan style burner or the straight tube burners; either way, memorize how it has been installed, then remove.  Inspect burners for leaks, cracks and corrosion along the top and bottom, and make sure the burner ports are clear of debris.

Once everything is out of the barbecue, use a SCOURER or a GENERAL PURPOSE BRUSH to remove any caked-on matter; cleaning the inside of a gas barbecue is the same procedure as cleaning a charcoal barbecue.  Whilst cleaning the barbecue, check the seams and any welds for cracks or signs of leakage.

Install the new burner safely or the freshly cleaned burner on the burner orifices, and fasten.  Check everything is in order with the gas turned on, ensuring you have rebuilt correctly before totally reassembling the grills.

You shouldn’t need to make any adjustments to the venturi as long as you haven't disturbed the primary air shutters.  The flames should light evenly and burn relatively blue at all ports, but if you find a dirty yellow flame, you will likely find it is caused due to a lack of primary air.  If this happens ensure you have cleared all debris from the bug screens, usually found around the primary air openings. 

CHARCOAL BARBECUE

Remove everything from inside the grill; ash and old coals should be removed too.  To guarantee nothing catches alight it is always best to ensure the embers are removed and the grill is cold.

Next, clean the inside of the grill with a thick CLOTH OR DISHCLOTH and cleaning solution, such as ECOFORCE CATERING CLEANER.  After, hose down with water.

Wipe the outside frame of your barbecue using a SPONGE and GENERAL MULTI-PURPOSE SPRAY - don’t use a wire or a baking soda solution on the frame, as this could remove the paint.

Spray the grills with an OVEN CLEANER - it is normally better to do this outside on some newspaper.  Follow the instructions on the label and you should find you are left with a gleaming end result.

Lastly, scrub down the grates with a damp SPONGE and rinse.  Before placing everything back into the barbecue, let it dry thoroughly.